In the cellar: one of Tamp's little wine havens.
History and romance are what inspired Shawn and Mary Sarkisian to open their little wine shop in FishHawk Ranch’s
.
“It’s all grapefruit” essentially, Shawn said, but the difference between wines made in the U.S. and those in France, Germany or Italy is the history of it. “You’re drinking the same wine Napoleon drank,” he said.
For this couple, that’s the romantic part.
The Sarkisians, who began collecting wine five years ago, were intrigued by it and its storied past. They now have a small collection of about 300 bottles in their home, and with 5,500 or so at the shop, Park Square Cellar, 16132 Churchview Drive in Lithia, Shawn joked it’s a second, more public collection.
Shawn prefers French reds. Occasionally a fine, but sweet desert wine will do too.
The couple has planned to open a place such as this for more than two years, following a dramatic, but very long search for an intimate community such as FishHawk Ranch where its residents are encouraged to walk about the downtown-like area because of the character and physical traits of the community.
On the internet they searched for months, all over the world, in Colorado, the west and northwest, and of course Florida, and did copious amounts of research learning as much as they could about wine and developing relationships with distributors and importers.
When they found the Newland Community and their realtor told them of the plans at
, plans were made, Shawn quit his job in Boston as a vice president for an ornamental plant distributor and brought both children here to wait.
Mary took a job in Boston for the benefits and waited. Finally she came down too.
“I got tired of working for someone else and wanted to work for myself,” he said of his dream. He and Mary collected wine and loved drinking it.
That passion turned into a 1,750-square foot business influenced by European piazzas where customers come in everyday, a place and a routine that becomes part of their lives.
A throw back to days gone by, he said.
Park Square Cellars offers no large label vineyards, only finer wines from smaller labels.
Eclectic is how he describes his selection.
Of the selection, about 30 percent of the wine is priced less than $12.
He hopes the little store, walls lined with various displays of wines, hundreds of selections, fresh bread and 65 choices of fine cheeses, will eventually attract both the casual wine drinker and the aficionado.
Park Square Cellar has a small wine tasting bar. Zoned wet, patrons can sit and have drink, buy their wares and take them home or amble about the FishHawk Ranch commercial center with a glass.
The Sarkisians also host classes about wine, wine tasting and wine and cheese pairing, among others, Shawn said.
Call: 813-689-4560.
